RL26 with the heavies in the 30-06

[Duramaximos]

Originally Posted by kujoseto

Chuck, based on your experience with RL16 and 168gr and this RL26 and 200gr, would you try RL26 with 180gr?

PM sent with more info

I'm curious to know the answer to this question??? Is RL26 viable with 180's?

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[fps plus]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

I was taught that loose primer pockets is one of the signs of pressure!
Cat

I was taught “it’s not a hot load until you have to tape the primers in”!😁

[kujoseto]

Originally Posted by Duramaximos

I'm curious to know the answer to this question??? Is RL26 viable with 180's?

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I’ve got some 175gr LRX loaded up and will keep you posted if I ever shoot them. Case capacity may become the issue. We’ll see how pressure and velocity compare to the ballistics software. It shows I may be low on the pressure side and run out of case capacity before getting where I want to.
I also have 180gr swift scirocco to compare to my RL16 load if the 175s work out.

[Salavee]

Originally Posted by Duramaximos

I'm curious to know the answer to this question??? Is RL26 viable with 180's?

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The short answer is no. If you have some RS Hunter, IMR 4350 or 4451 Enduron, try one of those.

[brewster29]

Originally Posted by Duramaximos

I'm curious to know the answer to this question??? Is RL26 viable with 180's?

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Depending on your bullet choice I am pretty certain you will run out of case capacity before you reach maximum velocities. I use it in my 280 Rem with Barnes 145LRX pills (280 has shoulder moved ahead about .050" from -06) and max for me is around 62.5 gr, thru a drop tube and vibrated a bit, still a compressed load. Data I have seen indicates 63.5-64 gr with 180's in the -06.

Flat base lead core bullets may just barely work ok, mono metals likely not.

[brewster29]

Just to clarify my post above- I am not loading 62.5 gr with the 145's, that's the max I can possibly squeeze in, and that's well into the neck.

[REMINGTON JIM]

[QUOTE=Duramaximos;4311174]I'm curious to know the answer to this question??? Is RL26 viable with 180's?

Yes it is ! Magic Pixie Powder ! RJ

[Pathfinder76]

[QUOTE=REMINGTON JIM;4316094]

Originally Posted by Duramaximos

I'm curious to know the answer to this question??? Is RL26 viable with 180's?

Yes it is ! Magic Pixie Powder ! RJ

Have you ever used it Jim?

[AlbertaAl]

tagged ~

[REMINGTON JIM]

[QUOTE=chuck;4316129]

Originally Posted by REMINGTON JIM

Have you ever used it Jim?

I have used it for years Chuck - My fav Powder in the 280 AI with 140 and 160 gr ers ! and in the 7 Rem mag too RJ

[Duramaximos]

Rifle is shooting 165s quite nicely, but not great. 200 gr accubonds open up to 1.5 moa. No key holes. 11" rot.

I have a few 200 gr bullets left and considering 180's next.

Burning H4831SC at the moment and this thread got me curious about potential powder/bullet combos.


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[kujoseto]

Originally Posted by Duramaximos

I'm curious to know the answer to this question??? Is RL26 viable with 180's?

Sent from my SM-N960W using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by kujoseto

I’ve got some 175gr LRX loaded up and will keep you posted if I ever shoot them. Case capacity may become the issue. We’ll see how pressure and velocity compare to the ballistics software. It shows I may be low on the pressure side and run out of case capacity before getting where I want to.
I also have 180gr swift scirocco to compare to my RL16 load if the 175s work out.

I finally got to the range for about 30 minutes to test some velocities.
Tikka action so I want to fit mag length for hunting.
25” Jury barrel 30-06
Nosler brass was pretty full at about 63gr with the 175 LRX... I’m not one to use a drop tube or crush a compressed charge but I could probably get a little more powder in and I know I can seat the bullet a little further out (about 45 thou and still fit mag).
Very limited sample because of time and I got to the 62.5gr charge in my steps up and velocity hit about 2870 fps. Pressure seemed low when comparing load data software and that “feel” where recoil often gets more sharp when I’m hitting max pressure (if you know what I mean... not sure if others find a noticeable change there too in some rifles)
Gordon’s Reloading Tool suggests I should’ve been up about 100 fps with still having room to push the pressure.
This rifle was put together with an aftermarket 300 win mag dbm so I have a ton of freebore when I switched back to factory Tikka dbm. As a hunting rifle I’m not interested in loading ammo too long for the factory dbm.

I would say the 175/180gr bullets are better suited with the 4350 burn rate range but easily getting over 2850 fps with clean burning powder and pressure on the low end with that bullet weight in that case is something.

Sold off the 180gr scirocco before I loaded any with RL26

Now here’s a question for those with more experience...
do the Barnes bullets pressure up more than other conventional bullet designs of similar weight?
I’ve read conflicting claims from experiences and in load data. Some say use more powder as the grooves reduce pressure, others state use less powder as the all copper design pressures up.
My own limited experience is the pressure seems lower with Barnes and more powder often needed while the swift seems to pressure up a little sooner (which is a common claim online)

[Dean2]

Old model Barnes equal greater pressure. The current design with the three bands typically show lower pressure than conventional jacketed bullets at the same amount of powder.

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by Dean2

Old model Barnes equal greater pressure. The current design with the three bands typically show lower pressure than conventional jacketed bullets at the same amount of powder.

I would say that is pretty fair.

[kujoseto]

Ok good to know
Maybe that 180 scirocco would’ve been great for comparing had I not dumped them haha

[aardvaark]

Just thot I’d throw this in here, if you’re using rl26, beware that is a very temp sensitive powder. If it works great and you’re near or at max pressure on a cool day, you’ll be way overpressure on a hot day.

[Salavee]

With my rifle .(280AI) I find the 150 TTSX shows 3200psi higher pressure than the same weight 150 gr Accubond. However, velocities are almost equal (40 fps difference) with both being current bullets. As can be expected, pressures and velocities will vary according to your particular rifle. A tight chamber and max dimensinon rifling can vary a lot as will a max dimesion chamber and a minimum dimesion barrel or rifling . All bullets seem to be pretty much uniform in max diameter and weight per caliber by any Mfgr. Thus the descrepancies.

[JBE]

Originally Posted by aardvaark

Just thot I’d throw this in here, if you’re using rl26, beware that is a very temp sensitive powder. If it works great and you’re near or at max pressure on a cool day, you’ll be way overpressure on a hot day.

I use r26 in my 6.5 prc with 140 accubonds. Difference from -5 to plus 20 degrees is about 15'/sec

[kujoseto]

Originally Posted by aardvaark

Just thot I’d throw this in here, if you’re using rl26, beware that is a very temp sensitive powder. If it works great and you’re near or at max pressure on a cool day, you’ll be way overpressure on a hot day.

Originally Posted by JBE

I use r26 in my 6.5 prc with 140 accubonds. Difference from -5 to plus 20 degrees is about 15'/sec

I was under the impression RL16 (comparable to H4350 / Varget etc) and RL26 were known for temp stability. Much less experience with RL26 so far. RL15 I can attest to spiking pressure on hotter days and having a noticeable amount of temp sensitivity at multiple ranges of temps whether warmer or colder.

[brewster29]

Alliant touts RL16 and RL26 as temperature insensitive. I have definitely noted pressure changes relative to temperature with RL17,19 and 22. I have not yet tested 26 as my load development was done in warm weather.

[Pathfinder76]

16 and 26 are definitely temp insensitive

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by aardvaark

Just thot I’d throw this in here, if you’re using rl26, beware that is a very temp sensitive powder. If it works great and you’re near or at max pressure on a cool day, you’ll be way overpressure on a hot day.

Tested how? I have not found this to be the case at all.

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by Salavee

With my rifle .(280AI) I find the 150 TTSX shows 3200psi higher pressure than the same weight 150 gr Accubond. However, velocities are almost equal (40 fps difference) with both being current bullets.

How are you testing this?

[JBE]

Originally Posted by Pathfinder76

Tested how? I have not found this to be the case at all.

Same here with r26

[Salavee]

Originally Posted by Pathfinder76

How are you testing this?

With the only way I know of that conveniently checks max chamber pressure... Quickload.

[Pathfinder76]

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